Posted on : Sat, 14 May 2005 02:06:00 GMT Author : Nigel WrightNews Category : Technology
Software giant Microsoft has finally thrown the long expected gaming challenge to rivals Sony and Nintendo. Microsoft unveiled their latest offering the Xbox 360 at a glamorous show on MTV aired in the US yesterday. The new gaming console optimizes high definition TV technology making the characters in games look very realistic. The show’s highlights, apart from the Xbox360, were Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood who unveiled the gaming console and popular bands Snow Patrol and Killers. The unveiling on MTV is a clear departure from tradition as gaming consoles are usually debuted at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expos). Fro Microsoft, the Xbox360 is an important step in its effort to dominate the multi-billion dollar world of video games. The new console’s features include an array of interchangeable face plates that will allow players to personalize the console. It also has a wireless controller. Every game on the new console will be designed for high-definition wide-screen TV.The console is well-equipped for the task, powered with three IBM PowerPC 3.2GHz chips, with a custom ATI 500MHz graphics processor and 512Mb of RAM.
Although the system requires that much processing power to deliver games in HD which are expensive, it works also on older TV sets.
Microsoft is taking a gamble by specifying HD TV for optimum benefit, but a spokesman said the company anticipated more consumers to migrate to the new technology as prices of HD TVs continued to fall suggesting that they could become more affordable in the near future.
With the new console, players will be able to see for the first time more believable characters with realistic facial animation and body movements, particularly in games like 'The Godfather,' 'Need For Speed: Most Wanted' and 'Madden NFL 2006. Earlier these characters had been flat and zombie-like.Another improvement is the absence of film footage in games that are based on movies. The in-game visuals are so realistic that there will be no need for real footage from films. On 'The Godfather' game everything looks so real that no film footage is needed.
The Xbox 360 can stand on its end or on its side and can be also used to watch DVDs (with built-in progressive scan), play music and stream media from portable devices. The company did not mention whether current Xbox games can be played on this new console. They also did not state a price but according to a guesstimate it could be worth approx. $300 (£162).
It will be shipped with two game controllers but can support up to four. It also has broadband connectivity with free online access to basic Xbox Live Silver.
It is the first major home game console launch since November 2001 when the first Xbox video games console was launched (a year behind Sony’s PlayStation 2 launch). The same machine was launched in Europe three months later. A total of 15.5 million units of the first console had been sold worldwide.
The new console will be released in the North American markets by Christmas this year, followed by Europe and Japan.
Rivals Sony (for their PlayStation 3) and Nintendo (Revolution) are expected to provide more details about their consoles next week at the annual games trade show, E3 in Los Angeles. As Robbie Bach, chief Xbox Officer at Microsoft said “It will change the way people think about video games.” A local wag was quick to quip “It will certainly change the way Sony and Nintendo think about video games.”
The two gaming majors are expected to provide more details about their consoles at the E3 in Los Angeles, next week. Analysts predict that the gaming market will be worth $11.3bn (£6.1bn) in five years' time.
